Liquidations not the end, contractor vows

Bad timing: Blenheim man Prubhjit Singh is upset his vineyard contracting company has been put into liquidation by the Inland Revenue Department.

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With Christmas coming and a one-month-old baby to care for, Marlborough man Prubhjit Singh says having his vineyard contracting company liquidated could not have come at a worse time.

Singh Services (NZ) Ltd was put into liquidation by Inland Revenue under an order issued by the High Court in Blenheim yesterday.

The company was registered in 2008 and also lists Mrinal Sardana as a director. Another of Mr Singh's companies, Singh Services Ltd, which also lists Mrinal Sardana as a director, was placed into liquidation on August 20.

Singh Services (NZ) lawyer Luke Radich had requested more time to allow his client to file a 2012 tax return and free up tax credits.

Associate Judge John Matthews said Inland Revenue was claiming $300,000 in unpaid taxes, and Singh Services (NZ) had not filed tax returns for either 2011 and 2012.

Mr Radich confirmed yesterday that Singh Services (NZ) had been placed into liquidation by Judge Matthews.

Mr Singh said he just needed more time to sort out his financial situation and he was disappointed the judge had refused that.

"If the judge had given me another month, I could have had a look at what to do.

"I have the money there, but I have not filed a return. My hard disk crashed two times and it took me six months to put it together. It is just bad luck," he said.

Inland Revenue held $213,000 of his money.

"This company was doing well. I just needed more time to file my tax returns and they did not give it to me."

Contract rates in the viticulture industry had not been good during the past two seasons and more Marlborough companies like his were likely to go out of business, Mr Singh said.

Singh Services (NZ) employs 80 people during the peak season.

Mr Singh said other contractors in the region would take on his staff and he was confident he and his wife Rajinder Kaur would get back on their feet.

Lynda Smart and Keiran Horne from HFK Ltd have been appointed liquidators.